"John W." <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
news:1148302851.206917.219020@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> MMike wrote:
>> Our gaigin were almost all Chinese and Korean.
>> >
>>
>> I have to say, in Kobe, where there are a higher ratio of westerners,
>> the proportion is getting even higher. I am seeing more and more
>> foreigners here. Not sure why.
>>
>> Maybe because I am wearing blinders half the time when I walk anywhere.
>
> It used to be you couldn't walk down the street without bumping into
> one; but that was over ten years ago. And the great thing was very
> likely you knew the person or knew you would eventually know them and
> could say hi; very rarely do gaigin tourists go to Kobe. After the
> earthquake the population declined, then the recession hit its stride
> and it declined further (I think rent prices had as much to do with
> that than anything else).
>
> John W.
>
Yea, we visited Kobe a little pricey but toting a wife and two hungry 
youngsters we have to watch the bottom line. (didn't get any beef)
I still find it rare to see a gaigin and if so it's on a train (some of the 
time they aren't friendly..I find that odd) But I have met more nice ones 
than not .
>